Tail gate



A. S. HUGHES Nov. 16

TAIL GATE Original Filed p 16. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Qu nn,

GZMXWWMmML Nov. 16 1926.

A. s. HUGHES TAIL GATE Original Filed pt. 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amvcwroz Witneooeo 1 We: mug

Patented Nov. 15, 5925.

UNITED STATES tween ARTHUR SHERIDAN HUGHES, F MANSFIELD, OHIO.

TAIL GATE.

Application filed September 16, 1925, Serial No. 56,673. Renewed October 4, 1926.

This invention relates to a tail gate for express bodies, so arranged that it may be opened either at the bottom or the top.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical device, which is easily manipulated for controlling the movement of the gate, and which may be operatively connected to an ordinary type of express body having a downwardly opening tail gate, and without any alteration in the latter convert it into a double-acting gate, so that in handling such materials as coal, sand, cinders, crushed stone and the like, the contents of the body may be discharged underneath the gate, instead of burying the same.

The specific construction of the invention and its advantages will be more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a body equipped with my invention, and showing the tailgate closed and locked.

Figure 2 is a similar view, partly in section, showing the gate unlocked at the bottom and ready to open.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the rear end of the body with the parts in the position shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view with the parts in the position shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the gate opened from the top.

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing the body in dumping position with the gate opened at the bottom.

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the gate closed and locked.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the means for fastening the hinge rod.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the attachment.

The invention is adapted to be used in eyes are chain links 16, which are adapted to receive lugs 17, projecting from the upper corners of the tail gate to lock the latter in closed posit-ion. The links 16 are held on the lugs 17 by chain hooks 18, which are hooked into the perforated ends of the lugs. The hooks 18 are carried on the ends of chains 19, the other ends of which areconnected to the links 16. When the hooks 18 are removed from the lugs 17 the latter may be disengaged from the links 16, and the tail gate swung downwardly to a substantially horizontal position. The extent of this movement is limited by the length of the chains 19, the hooks 18 being again inserted in the lugs 17 after the latter aredisengaged from the links 16.

In converting a tail gate of this construction into a double-acting gate, the hinge rod, which usually connects the eyes 12 and 14, is removed, and the attachment shown in Figure 9 is connected with the two outer eyes 12 but the hinge rod is used as a part of this attachment. This attachment comprises a bar 20, formed at one end with a laterally extending lug 21, and having near its other end a similarly disposed lug 22, which is removably secured by bolts 23, or the like. Pins 24 are permanently secured to the lugs 21 and 22 respectively, and are adapted to engage the twoouter eyes 12, but are not long enough to engage the eyes 14. A rod 25 which may be the former hinge rod has one end mounted in the lug 21, and the other end connected to a lateral projection 26 on the lug 22 by means of a cotter pin 27 or the like. A sleeve 28 is slid ably mounted on the rod 25, and is formed with a finger 29 adapted to be moved into engagement with the central eyes 12 and 14, to form a hinge pin about which the tail gate pivots when it is moved downwardly. A. laterally projecti'ng finger 30 is secured to the'sleeve 28 for convenience in shifting the same.

Whenthe tail gate is closed and looked, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the finger 29 is moved into engagementwith the central eyes 12 and 14, and the top of the gate is held by the links 16, whichengage the lugs 17. The bar 20 is swung upwardly about the pins constituting the axis, so that the end portions of the rod 25 engage the outer faces of the two outer eyes 14, and aid in holding the lower side of the gate firmly closed. One end of the bar 20 is turned laterally, as

adapted to be sprungso as to engage in front of the U-shaped member 11 -to hold the bar in this position. When it is desired to open the gate at the bottom, the arm 81; may be sprung sufliciently to permit the ear 32 to pass the rail 11. The bar is then swung to the position shown in Figures 2' and 4,

thus releasingthe bar from the two outer ears 14c. The sleeve 28 and finger 29 are then moved longitudinally to release the central eyel l, so that the gate may swing to thepo sition showirin Figure 6. When it is desiredto open the gate from the top, the bar 20'is also swung to the position shown in Figures 2 and 4, and the lugs 17 are released. The gate may then be swung to the position shown Figure 5, in which position the fingerQQ forms a hinge pin for "the central eye "Ligand the two ,outer eyes 14 ride on the endportions of the .1'od25, and aid in supporting the outer endsofthe gate.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I-haveprovideda simple attachment, which will convert. the ordinary downwardly opening tail gate of. a Ford expressbodyinto a double-acting gate. The attachment may be very easily applied to the express body, merelyby removingv the cotter pin 27 l Vhiledhave shown. and described detail thespecific construction of the device as at present constructed,:1t is apparent that many modifications may be madertherein without. departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any p of its advantages. It is my purpose, therefore, to in clulde allsuch modificationswithin the scope of. th ppend d c aims.

1. The herein described attachment, com

prising abar formed at oneend with a laterally ,extendmg lug and having near its other end a similar'higfixed inwardly extending hinge pins carried bysaid lugs, a longitudinally arranged rod carried by the bar and mountedin said lugs, and a; sleeve slidably mounted on the rod and; provided w a locking nseri rming. i ge pi in longitudinal alinement. with the other hinge pins. i

1 ,prising a [bar formed, at one. end with. a: laterally extending.lug and having .near its 1L2. .The herein described attachment, comotheriend .a similar; lug, fixed inwardly, eX-

tending, hinge pinscarriedby saidlugs, a

longitudinally arranged rod carried, by the banandmounted in said lugs, and a, sleeve slidably mounted on the rod and provided witha looking fingerforming a. hinge pin'in longitudinal ahnement with the other hinge pins, said bar havingone endturned laterally and provided with an ear and constituting an operating.andlockingmeans for said bar. j 3. The combination with a body having at its reara'plurahty of rearwardly probody, means for hangingthe gate from the body at the top so as to swing outwardly and upwardly away from the bottom, and sep arate means for pivotally connecting the gate to the bodyv at the bottom so that the gate may swing outwardly from thebody, said last means consisting of a bar ,pivotally connected to the eyes on the body, a rod carried by the bar, and a slidable means'mounted on the rod and'adapted to engage one of the eyes on the body with one of the eyes on the gate to pivotally connect the gate and bodytogether at the bottom.

{L In combinationwith a body, a tail-gate, means {or hanging the gate from the top of the body so as to swing outwardly from the bottom, andmeans for pivotally connecting the gate to. the body at the bottom, saidrlast means including a bar'pivotally connected to the body, a rodcarried by the bar, and slidable meansanounted on. the rod for engaging the. gate, said 'slidable means, forming a pivotal connection between the gate and the body at the bottom.

5. In combination with a body having at its rear a U-shaped rail provide d with a plurality of eyes, a tail gate having, eyes projecting downwardly from its lower edge and adapted to register withthe eyes on the rail, a barpivotally connected to the eyes on the rail, a rod carried by the bar, and slidable means mounted on the rod for engaging o neof the eyes onthe rail and onthe gate to pivotally connect the to swing downwardly. H v 6. In combination with. a body having at its rear a, U-shaped rail provided with .a plurality of eyes,. a tail gatehaving eyes projecting downwardly from its lower edge and adapted toregister with the eyes on the rail, means. for connecting theU shaped. rail to the tail gate at the upper end, so as to swing outwardly fromthe bottom, and means for pivotally connecting the gate to the eyes on the rail comprising a bar pivotally connected at its ends to the'eyes on the rail, a rod carried by thejbar, means mounted on the rod for engaging one of the eyes on the rail with .one of the eyes onthe gate, so as to constitute a hinge about whiclrthe gate 18 swung.

7. In combination with a body having at its rear. a U-shap ed rail providedfwith a plurality. of eyes, a tail gatehaving. eyes projecting downwardlyflfrom its lower edge and gate ,to the rail so. as

7 adapted to register'avith the eyeson the rail,

means for, connectingthe'll shaped rail to the tail Jgateat the upper end, so as to'swing outwardly from the bottom,1and means for pi'votally connecting the gate to the eyes on the rail comprising a bar pivotally connected at its ends to the eyes on the rail, a

rod carried by the bar, means mounted on the rod for engaging one of the eyes on the rail with one of the eyes on the gate, .so as to constitute a hinge about which the gate is swung, one end of said bar being turned laterally and formed with an ear adapted to be sprung in front of the U-shaped rail to hold the bar in its adjusted position.

8. In combination with a body having at its rear a U-shaped rail provided with a plurality of eyes, a tail gate having eyes projecting downwardly from its lower edge and adapted to register with the eyes on the body, means for hingedly connecting the U- shaped rail to the tail gate at the upper end, means for limiting the downward movement of the tail gate, a bar pivotally connected to the eyes on the body, a rod carried by the bar, and means mounted on the rod for engaging registering eyes on the body and on the gate to pivotally connect the gate so as to swing downwardly.

9. In combination with a body having at its rear a U-shaped rail provided with a plurality of eyes, a tail gate having eyes projecting downwardly from its lower edge and registering with the eyes of said rail, means for connecting the U-shaped rail to the tail gate at the top, a bar having lugs near the opposite ends, pins carried by the lugs and adapted to pivot in the end eyes of the rail, a rod carried by the bar, a sleeve slidable on said rod and provided with a finger adapted to engage registering eyes on the rail and tail gate and form a bottom pivot for the gate, and means on the bar for turning the same about its pivot.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

ARTHUR SHERIDAN HUGHES. 

